CHRIS ISAACSON Certified Wildlife Biologist Registered Forester BMPs for Southern States CHRIS ISAACSON Certified Wildlife Biologist Registered Forester

ALABAMA General Enforcement: Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) Education: Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) Monitoring: Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) BMP Status: Current manual published in 1993 Contact: Alabama Forestry Commission (334) 240-9335

ALABAMA Manual Contents 1. Streamside management zones 2. Stream crossings 3. Forest roads 4. Timber harvesting 5. Reforestation / stand management 6. Forested wetland management 7. Revegetation / stabilization

ALABAMA Section Highlights 1. Streamside management zones Perennial 35’ @ side / retain 50% of crown cover Intermittent 35’ @ side / total harvest allowed but must retain vegetative cover 2. Stream crossings Crossings allowed: log, fords, culverts, bridges

ALABAMA Section Highlights 3. Forest Roads General guidelines Planning Drainage Crowned roads Turnout ditches Outsloped roads Insloped roads Water bars Broad-based dips Road closure Maintenance

ALABAMA Section Highlights 4. Timber Harvesting Logging roads Felling Skidding Cut-to-length Trash Disposal

ALABAMA Section Highlights 5. Reforestation / Stand Management Mechanical site preparation Chemical site preparation Follow label directions Avoid application within SMZ Do not mix / clean equipment near standing water Prescribed burning Tree planting

ALABAMA Section Highlights 6. Forested Wetland Management 15 Federally mandated BMPs Timber harvesting Reforestation Land clearing Herbicide use Bedding Species composition Removal of beaver dams

ALABAMA Section Highlights 7. Revegetation / stabilization Site preparation Liming & fertilizing Species recommendations Mulching Vegetation establishment Silt screen / hay bale Gully stabilization

ARKANSAS General Enforcement: Arkansas Department of Pollution Control & Ecology (ADPCE) Education: Arkansas Forestry Commission (AFC) Monitoring: Arkansas Forestry Commission (AFC) BMP Status: Under revision. Due 12/2001. Contact: Arkansas Forestry Commission (501) 296-1940

ARKANSAS Manual Contents 1. Planning 2. Road construction & maintenance 3. Harvesting 4. Mechanical site preparation 5. Silvicultural chemicals 6. Recommended specifications

ARKANSAS Section Highlights 1. Planning 2. Road construction Location Drainage Water crossings Maintenance

ARKANSAS Section Highlights 3. Harvesting Setting design Log landings Felling & bucking Skidding Disposal of debris & litter 4. Mechanical site preparation

ARKANSAS Section Highlights 5. Silvicultural chemicals Maintenance of equipment stop leaks no servicing near streams Mixing prevent backflow avoid spills Aerial application do not apply or allow to drift onto open water Ground application do not apply to water do not exceed allowable rate

ARKANSAS Section Highlights 5. Silvicultural chemicals (continued) Limitations follow label Container handling & disposal make sure container is labeled follow local, state, & federal regs triple rinse Equipment cleanup avoid cleanup near streams, ponds, etc notification of spills contain & neutralize spills

ARKANSAS Section Highlights 6. Recommended specifications Haul roads Water bars Wing ditches Cross road drainage: culverts Broad-based dips Rolling dips Stream crossings Skid trails

FLORIDA General Enforcement: Education: Florida Division of Forestry (DOF) Monitoring: Florida Division of Forestry (DOF) BMP Status: Current manual published in 1993 Contact: Florida Division of Forestry (850) 488-4274 *Florida BMPs are quasi-regulatory

FLORIDA Manual Contents 1. Special Management Zones 2. Best Management Practices

FLORIDA Section Highlights 1. Special Management Zones (“SMZ”) SMZ protects water quality, stream temp, & wildlife habitat Width determined by site sensitivity class 3 components of SMZ: primary zone, secondary zone, stringer Guidelines provided are very specific!

FLORIDA Section Highlights 1. SMZ - Primary Zone Applies to perennial lakes, streams, sinkholes, special status waters, some wetlands no clearcutting except under special conditions leave 50% of stocking width varies 35-200’ @ side

FLORIDA Section Highlights 1. SMZ - Secondary Zone Applies to intermediate lakes, streams, sinkholes May be “add-on” to primary zone no limitations on timber harvesting no mechanical site prep, fertilization, or aerial application of herbicide

FLORIDA Section Highlights 1. SMZ - Stringer applies to intermittent streams comprised of trees left on or near the streambank primary benefit to wildlife, especially songbirds

FLORIDA Section Highlights 2. Best Management Practices Public land Wetlands drainage & conversion roads harvest < 200 ac - retain snags & 3-5 tpa or 10% area harvest > 200 ac - retain snags & 1-2 tpa / cc cannot exceed 160 ac / cc separated from adjoining cc by 200’ strip units with >5 small isolated wetlands must retain 20% unharvested skidding

FLORIDA Section Highlights 2. Best Management Practices Canals Sinkholes Roads planning construction drainage maintenance Stream crossings culverts hard-surface crossings

FLORIDA Section Highlights 2. Best Management Practices Timber harvesting skid trails slash disposal Site preparation & planting Fire line construction Waste disposal oil solids

FLORIDA Section Highlights 2. Best Management Practices Pesticide & fertilizer use use equipment to direct spray no aerial application in primary zone properly dispose of containers avoid SMZ or water body when cleaning equipment no application of fertilizer in primary zone Wet weather Emergency operations

GEORGIA General Enforcement: Georgia Environmental Protection Division Education: Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) Monitoring: Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) BMP Status: Current manual published in 1999 Contact: Georgia Forestry Commission (800) GA-TREES www.gfc.state.ga.us

GEORGIA Manual Contents 1. Planning 2. Streamside Management Zones 3. Special Management Areas 4. Road Location, Construction, Steam Crossings, Maintenance, & Retirement 5. Timber Harvesting 6. Site Preparation & Reforestation 7. Management & Protection 8. Additional Management Objectives

GEORGIA Section Highlights 1. Planning 2. Streamside Management Zones Perennial 40-100’ @ side leave 50 sf basal area or 50% of canopy Intermittent 20-50’ @ side leave 25 sf basal area or 25% of canopy Designated Trout Streams 100’ @ side option A - 25’ no harvest / balance 50 sf ba or 50% canopy option B - 50 sf ba

GEORGIA Section Highlights 3. Special Management Area Includes braided streams, canals, ditches, protected mountain tops, protected river corridors, seeps & springs, sinkholes, sloughs, water supply reservoirs, & wetlands 4. Road location….. Road location Road Construction Stream crossings Maintenance & retirement

GEORGIA Section Highlights 5. Timber Harvesting Log decks Skid trails Stream crossings Rutting Equipment washing & servicing Protecting SMZ during harvesting Protecting wetlands during harvesting

GEORGIA Section Highlights 6. Site Prep & Reforestation Mechanical site prep Mechanical site prep in wetlands Chemical site prep avoid application or drift into SMZ handle / mix / clean well away from water body properly dispose of herbicide containers Prescribed burning Reforestation

GEORGIA Section Highlights 7. Management & Protection Prescribed burning / hazard reduction Wildfire suppression Fertilization Revegetation & stabilization 8. Additional Management Objectives Wildlife management Protected species Aesthetics Sensitive sites

GEORGIA Section Highlights 9. Appendix Designated Trout Streams Federal & state laws affecting forest landowners

LOUISIANA General Enforcement: Louisiana Division of Environmental Quality Education: Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry Monitoring: Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry BMP Status: Current manual published in 1999 Contact: Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry (318) 443-2558

LOUISIANA Manual Contents 1. Planning 2. Roads 3. Timber Harvesting 4. Site Preparation & Reforestation 5. Silvicultural Chemicals 6. Fire Management 7. Wetlands 8. Louisiana Natural & Scenic Rivers

LOUISIANA Section Highlights 1. Planning 2. Roads Permanent roads location & planning construction drainage water crossings road maintenance Temporary roads

LOUISIANA Section Highlights 3. Timber Harvesting Pre-harvest planning SMZ Perennial 50-100’ @ side Intermittent 35’ @ side Felling & skidding Landing, log decks, & sets Revegetation Equipment maintenance & litter

LOUISIANA Section Highlights 4. Site Prep & Reforestation 5. Silvicultural Chemicals Follow label Avoid leaks from equipment Use anti-siphon device @ water intake Avoid mixing/cleanup near water body Avoid direct or indirect application into water Utilize injection / stump treatment immediately adjacent to water Contain spills Dispose of containers properly

LOUISIANA Section Highlights 6. Fire Management 7. Wetlands Prescribed burning Fireline construction Wildfires 7. Wetlands Mandatory road BMPs Permanent roads Temporary roads & skid trails Road maintenance Harvesting operations Buffers

LOUISIANA Section Highlights 7. Wetlands (continued) Site preparation Reforestation Forest chemicals follow label directions use skilled / licensed applicators buffer moving surface water 8. Louisiana Natural & Scenic Rivers Harvesting restrictions w/in 100’ of low water mark Notification required when harvesting in that zone Permit required for “aerial application of pesticide… to fields adjacent to scenic streams”

MISSISSIPPI General Enforcement: Mississippi Dept. of Environmental Quality Education: Mississippi Forestry Commission Monitoring: Mississippi Forestry Commission BMP Status: 3rd edition published in 2000 Contact: Mississippi Forestry Commission (601) 359-1386

MISSISSIPPI Manual Contents 1. Principles of Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Methods 2. Water Quality / Forest Management Planning 3. Streamside Management Zones 4. Woodland Trails & Roads 5. Forest Harvesting 6. Site Preparation 7. Tree Planting 8. Revegetation of Disturbed Forest Sites

MISSISSIPPI Section Highlights 1. Principles of Nonpoint….Control Methods 2. Forest Management Planning Written plan recommended 3. Streamside Management Zones Perennial 30-60’ @ side retain 50 sf basal area Intermittent 30’ @ side cc allowed but must maintain vegetative cover

MISSISSIPPI Section Highlights 4. Woodland Trails & Roads Skid trails Haul roads Erosion control methods broad-based dips fords bridges turnouts water bars outsloped roads culverts temporary stream crossings

MISSISSIPPI Section Highlights 5. Forest Harvesting Access trails & roads Logging debris Equipment maintenance Landings & concentration yards Portable sawmills & sawdust 6. Site Preparation Prescribed burning Mechanical site prep

MISSISSIPPI Section Highlights 6. Site Preparation (continued) Chemical site prep consider chemical over mechanical on highly erosive sites never broadcast chemical in watercourse or SMZ avoid mixing / cleaning equipment near water properly dispose of containers 7. Tree Planting 8. Revegetation

NORTH CAROLINA General Enforcement: Education: NC Division of Forest Resources Monitoring: NC Division of Forest Resources BMP Status: 1989 - currently under revision / due 10/2001 Contact: NC Division of Forest Resources (919) 733-2162

NORTH CAROLINA Manual Contents 1. Elements of Water Quality Affected by Forest Practices 2. Runoff & Erosion 3. Accessing & Harvesting Forest Products 4. Site Preparation & Reforestation 5. Revegetating Disturbed Areas 6. Wildfire Protection

NORTH CAROLINA Section Highlights 1. Elements of Water Quality Affected by Forest Practices Sediment Temperature Chemical use Organic matter 2. Runoff & Erosion

NORTH CAROLINA Section Highlights 3. Accessing & Harvesting Forest Products Planning recommend written pre-harvest plan Streamside Management Zone perennial 50’ @ side / harvesting allowed - retain 75% crown cover / <20% bare ground intermittent 50’ @ side / harvesting allowed - retain 25% crown cover / <40% bare ground perennial trout stream 50-125’ @ side public water supply 50-200’ @ side

NORTH CAROLINA Section Highlights 3. Accessing & Harvesting Forest Products Access roads “If possible, haul road should be built at least a year before harvest begins so that they have time to stabilize…” Water turnouts Log decks, landings, & portable sawmills Skid trails Stream crossings Cross road drainage Broad based dips / rolling dips / water bars

NORTH CAROLINA Section Highlights 4. Site Preparation & Reforestation Planning Prescribed burning Drum chopping Disking Bull dozing Bedding Furrowing & scalping Hand tools & equipment Machine planting

NORTH CAROLINA Section Highlights 4. Site Preparation & Reforestation Pesticide follow label properly dispose of containers avoid mixing / cleanup near waterway avoid leaking equipment application “surface wind < 6mph” “below 90 degrees” avoid spraying in advance of or during changing weather use equipment / technology to avoid drifting notification of adjacent landowner required for aerial application

NORTH CAROLINA Section Highlights 5. Revegetating Disturbed Areas Seedbed preparation Liming / fertilizing Permanent seeding Mulching Anchoring organic mulch Maintenance Temporary seeding & seeding mixture 6. Wildfire Protection

SOUTH CAROLINA General Enforcement: Dept of Health & Environmental Control Education: South Carolina Forestry Commission Monitoring: South Carolina Forestry Commission BMP Status: 1994 - supplement published to address braided streams Contact: South Carolina Forestry Commission (803) 896-8817

SOUTH CAROLINA Manual Contents 1. Streamside Management Zones 2. Stream Crossings 3. Forest Road Construction 4. Timber Harvesting 5. Site Preparation 6. Reforestation 7. Prescribed Burning 8. Pesticide 9. Fertilization 10. Minor Drainage 11. Endangered Species Act 12. Additional Management Options

SOUTH CAROLINA Section Highlights 1. Streamside Management Zones Primary zone 40-80’ @ side Secondary zone 0-120’ @ side Perennial primary retain min 50 sf basal area secondary minimize soil disturb / all silv. act. allowed Intermittent primary cc but maintain vegetative cover Ephemeral avoid disturbance of forest floor avoid crossing, emptying road runoff into, or altering flow

SOUTH CAROLINA Section Highlights 2. Stream Crossing culverts woody fill 3. Forest Road Construction Planning Construction Stabilization Maintenance Wetland road construction

SOUTH CAROLINA Section Highlights 4. Timber Harvesting Water quality BMPs onsite impacts BMPs (site productivity, visual impacts, wildlife habitat) 5. Site Preparation Mechanical Chemical Prescribed burning 6. Reforestation 7. Prescribed Burning

SOUTH CAROLINA Section Highlights 8. Pesticides Follow label directions Proper disposal of containers Aerial application <5 mph liquid <8 mph solid Ground application < 10 mph Wait for change in wind direction if blowing toward sensitive site Avoid mixing / cleanup near open water Cleanup / contain all spills

SOUTH CAROLINA Section Highlights 8. Pesticides (continued) Avoid application directly to water body Avoid broadcast in primary SMZ Avoid application adjacent to primary SMZ that would damage trees in SMZ 9. Fertilization 10. Minor Drainage 11. Endangered Species Act 12. Additional Management Options Wildlife management

SOUTH CAROLINA Section Highlights 13. Braided Streams Supplement Streamside Management Zones Road stream crossings Forest road construction Timber harvesting

TENNESSEE General Enforcement: Tennessee Dept of the Environment & Conservation Education: Tennessee Division of Forestry Monitoring: Tennessee Division of Forestry BMP Status: 1993 - currently under revision / draft in hands of Attorney General for review Contact: Tennessee Division of Forestry (615) 837-5411

TENNESSEE Manual Contents 1. Locating & Constructing of Forest Roads 2. Establishing Streamside Management Zones 3. Planning Timber Harvest 4. Slash Treatment & Site Preparation 5. Providing for Revegetation of Disturbed Areas 6. Special Considerations in Forested Wetlands

TENNESSEE Section Highlights 1. Locating & Constructing Forest Roads Planning design & location Constructing the road Drainage from the road surface broad-based dips water bars culverts 2. Establishing SMZs 25-145’ @ side perennial - retain >50% canopy intermittent - retain vegetative cover stream crossings

TENNESSEE Section Highlights 3. Planning Timber Harvest Locating log landings & skid trails 4. Slash Treatment & Site Prep Mechanical site prep Chemical site prep avoid application in SMZ 5. Providing for Revegetation of Disturbed Areas 6. Special Consideration in Wetlands Forest roads / SMZ / Harvesting

TEXAS General Enforcement: Texas State Soil & Water Conservation Board Education: Texas Forest Service Monitoring: Texas Forest Service BMP Status: 2000 Contact: Texas Forest Service (409) 639-8180

TEXAS Manual Contents 1. Planning 2. Road Construction & Maintenance 3. Road Material Sites 4. Harvesting 5. Site Preparation / Planting 6. Fire 7. Silvicultural Chemicals 8. Streamside Management Zones 9. Recommended Specifications 10. Wetlands

TEXAS Section Highlights 1. Planning 2. Road Construction & Maintenance Location Construction Drainage Water crossings Road maintenance 3. Road Material Sites Planning & layout Active sites Reclamation

TEXAS Section Highlights 4. Harvesting 5. Site Preparation / Planting Design Felling & bucking Skidding Disposal of debris & litter 5. Site Preparation / Planting 6. Fire Prescribed fire Wildfire control Wildfire reclamation Fireline & firelane construction

TEXAS Section Highlights 7. Silvicultural Chemicals Planning Maintenance of equipment (no leaks) Mixing (backflow prevention) Aerial application avoid direct or indirect application to water Ground application do not exceed rx rate single stem treatment immediately adjacent to open water Manage spills / Proper disposal of containers Cleanup - triple rinse & apply to site

TEXAS Section Highlights 8. Streamside Management Zones Design perennial & intermittent - 50’ @ side municipal water supply - 100-200’ @ side Harvesting “enough trees & understory ... left to provide adequate shade for the stream, lessen the impact from rain drops, & intercept sediment & debris washing toward the stream” 9. Recommended Specifications Haul roads Skid Trails Logging sets Water bars Wing ditches Cross road drainage Stream crossing Rolling Dips Broad-based dips SMZs Salvage in SMZ Revegetation

TEXAS Section Highlights 10. Wetlands Planning SMZ & riparian area Access systems (Mandatory road BMPs) Harvesting operations / Rutting Site preparation Fire management Silvicultural chemicals follow label “to the letter” skilled/licensed applicators buffer moving surface water do not allow spray or rinse to reach SMZ

VIRGINIA General Enforcement: VA Department of Forestry Education: VA Department of Forestry Monitoring: VA Department of Forestry BMP Status: 1997 / under revision, due May, 2001 Contact: VA Department of Forestry (804) 977-6555

VIRGINIA Manual Contents 1. Watersheds 2. Pre-harvest Planning 3. Streamside Management Zones 4. Truck Haul Roads 5. Stream Crossings 6. Skid Trails 7. Log Decks,l Landings, & Portable Sawmills 8. Revegetation of Bare Soil Areas 9. Wetlands 10. Additional BMP Measures

VIRGINIA Section Highlights 1. Watersheds 2. Pre-harvest Planning Notification of harvesting is required?? 3. Streamside Management Zones Perennial 50’ @ side / retain 50% crown cover Intermittent 25’ @ side / retain 50% crown cover 4. Truck Haul Road Specifications Rolling dips / broad-based dips Pipe culverts Maintenance

VIRGINIA Section Highlights 5. Stream Crossing Design & Construction Temporary bridges Culverts Fords (dumping of “unnatural or foreign material in stream is prohibited”) 6. Skid Trails 7. Log Decks & Portable Sawmills 8. Revegetation of Bare Soil Sites

VIRGINIA Section Highlights 9. Wetlands 10. Additional BMP measures Planning Access systems Permanent haul roads SMZs Felling practices Wildlife & fish habitat Springs / seeps 10. Additional BMP measures

For additional information, contact